Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes has described geo-blocking by RTÉ locking out northern viewers as unacceptable.

The Newry and Armagh MP said:

“It is completely unacceptable that northern viewers have once again been subject to ‘geo-blocking’, preventing them from viewing certain programmes on RTÉ. Citizens from every part of the island deserve full access to southern broadcasters.

“Geo-blocking of northern viewers has become increasingly prevalent over recent years but blocking RTÉ News output from Northern citizens takes this malevolent practice up another notch.

 “RTÉ News is viewed by a huge number of people in the north. Political, economic and social developments on this island affect all of us and it is essential that access to news is universal.

“With only three days left until the biggest game in the Gaelic football calendar, the people of Armagh, and indeed across the six counties, will now miss out on important news coverage, reports and match build-up.

“Also, news and reaction to Ireland’s Olympic team, which boasts many northerners, will be blocked too and lock out many citizens from the north from keeping up to date with their progress.

“RTÉ is treating northern citizens with contempt. 

“I am calling on the broadcaster to immediately reverse this decision. This is a publicly funded body and I will be writing to the Minster for Media and to the RTÉ Director General to bring this contemptible practice to an end.”